Mint: Philadelphia
Mintage: 31,487,228
Catalog: KM-112
Obverse Designer: Charles E. Barber
Reverse Designer: Charles E. Barber
Composition: Copper-Nickel
Weight: 5.00 Grams
Diameter: 21.2mm
Edge: Plain
This date had the highest mintage of any nickel five-cent piece since the type began in 1866, yet this figure would soon be exceeded. Plentiful in all grades through MS 65, the technical qualities of such coins vary widely. The typical 1902 is less than fully struck, may have worn, pebbly fields and be lackluster. At the other end of the spectrum are a very few prooflike specimens.
This is a rich date for varieties, but all of them are minor and hard to discern. Several RPDs are known, along with an obverse die showing doubling in the stars and a misplaced date obverese with parts of numerals 19 hidden within the denticles below the date. These varieties are illustrated in the book Treasure Hunting Liberty Head Nickels.